Check protector



NOV. 7, 1950 R, l, HELLER 2,529,022

CHECK PROTECTOR Filed Oct. 4, 1946 ZZ l HaHauuuuuef 22 j] .l

j@ /cA/qaf Haute,

I N V EN TOR.

,4free/Vix Patented Nov. 7, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to check protectors in general and particularly to an improved personal check protector. More specifically the invention comprises a check protector of light Weight adapted to be transported in the pocket and incorporating improvements which enable the check to be positioned easily for the protecting operation.

Literally millions of negotiable instruments are issued each day. The usual bank check is the |best known example and is widely used by the ordinary citizen in the settlement of his accounts. The blank form is usually provided by a bank and is lled out by the drawer payable to a party certain, or to his order, in a sum certain and at a denite or determinable future time. Negotiable instruments are passed from holder to holder and in the hands of a bona fide holder for value are free from nearly all legal defenses and are almost as acceptable as currency in business circles.

It becomes important to maintain the integrity of these negotiable instruments and it is the duty of the maker or drawer to exercise due care in their preparation to prevent alterations by wrongdoers. The ordinary citizen, however, is not too well versed in the proper preparation of a check and frequently they are drawn in a manner which presents a ready opportunity to one wishing to make changes therein. When such changes are made, there is usually resulting loss upon an innocent party and the acceptability of negotiable instruments inrgeneral is to that extent'damaged.

Check protecting devices have gained Wide usage in commercial circles. Marks, including indentations and perforations, are usually made by such devices upon the instrument after it has been drawn, such marks being so positioned that anyl erasures or alterations would ybe easily observed.' These protecting marks, however, have not inthe past gained wide usage among the citizenry and yet it is this class which has the greatest need therefor. Possibly the usual check represents a higher percentage of the Wealth of the drawer when drawn by an individual than it does when drawn by a business institution.

The check protecting unit constructed in accordance with the present invention is adapted primarily for use by the individual. It is simply constructed and of light weight so that it is adapted to be transported in the pocket and in the check pad jacket where it is available for use each time a check is drawn. Upon the completion of the drawingof the check, it is a simple matter to position it properly and to perform the protecting operation, only seconds being required. The unit is adapted for economical manufacture so f as to meet a wide market demand.

With the foregoing in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved personal check protector.

It is another object of the invention to provide a, check protector incorporating improved check positioning means.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a light weight portable check protector in which the check marking unit is pivotally supported at one end to permit of movement to open position as to enable the check to be positioned properly for the protecting operation.

These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated:

Figure l is a top plan view of the unit constructed in accordance with the present invention attached to a check pad jacket partially shown;

Figure 2 is a side view looking in the direction of the arrows of line 2--2 of Figure l Figure 3 isa transverse section upon the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure Il is a longitudinal section through the unit upon the line 6 4 of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is a front View of the unit pivoted to its open check receiving position, certain parts being broken away and shown in section.

The check protecting unit Vconstructed in accordance with the present invention consists of a base I0 including a plate I I. The forward part of the plate is formed at one side with a Wall I2 and at the opposite side is turned upon itself to form journals I3, the use of which will be explained.

A depressed channel I4 extends transversely across the plate I I between the wall I2 and journals I3, a multiplicity of ribs I6 extending across the top of the channel in the plane of the plate II, being spaced by slots l?. An inverted U-seetioned channel, housing or carrier I8 extends between the wall I2 and the journals I3 being formed with end walls I9. One of the latter is formed with an overturned extremity 2l which forms a journal similar to journals I3 and is positioned therebetween. A pin 22 extends through journals I3 and 2l to mount the latter pivotally, an encircling coil spring 23 on the pin urging the journal 2l at all times to a position adjacent the forward plate journal I3. Pin 22 pivotally supports the housing i8 for movement from an operative position, illustrated in Figure 4 in which an end wall I9 lies adjacent and just inside the base wall I2, to an inoperative position in which the housing is pivoted from the base, as for example the position illustrated in Figure 5.

The check marking means are carried by the housing or carrier I8 and comprise an elongated sleeve 26 which slidingly seats pins or detents 2l, the ends of which are spaced by anges 30, and

which project into seats 28 formed in the end walls I9 of the housing. A coil spring 29 is positioned centrally within sleeve 2t and at all times urges the detents outwardly and into the seats 28. A plurality of spaced toothed rotors or wheels 3| are rotatably mounted upon the sleeve 2t, being spaced by spacers or rings 32 of various sizes adapted to provide proper spacing. Wheels 3l are so located that their circumierentially spaced teeth project into the slots Il' between the ribs IB with the carrier in its lowered operating posik tion illustrated in Figure 4.

To retain the carrier in operative position the detent-2l adjacent the base wall i2 is extended at 36 beyond the housing wall lll and connects by a reduced neck 3l to an enlarged force receiving head 3i). Wall I2 is provided with a vertically extending slot ill, of a diameter to receive the neck 3l', and with a seat l2 at the inner end of the slot suiiiciently large to receive the detent extension 36. Under the normal actuation of the coil spring 29 the latter seats within the wall seat l2 to retain the carrier and the marking means in operative position. To move the carrier to open or inoperative position, the head end 38 is forced inwardly manually until the reduced neck 3l is positioned within the seat L32 at which time the carrier can be pivoted upwardly, the neck moving through the slot 4I.

The unit is adapted to be positioned removably in the jacket or a check pad although it should be understood that it is also adapted to be mounted upon other supports. An illustrative check pad jacket is indicated in the drawing at 4I and is seen to include an overlying pocket 2. The plate l I of base lll is provided with outwardly extending studs 43 which extend upwardly through the pocket and seat spring type snaps 415 which prevent displacement. YThe check pad, which is also` adapted tol be carried by the jacket, is not shown, being of standard type, but is adapted to be positioned with its end adjacent the housing so that with the jacket folded, the protector and the pad will be entirely enclosed. Y

In the use of the protector constructed in accordance with the present invention, after drawing the check the user will exert an inward force upon the head 23 of detent 2l to displace the extension 36 thereof from its seat i2 in the wall I2. The carrier or housing can then be pivoted outwardly, the reduced neck 3l moving through slot llI to the position shown in Figure 5 or even higher. The check can then be placed upon the base i@ in such position that the wheels or rotors 3l will ineke Contact therewith upon that area con1 taining the name of the payee, and the amount to be paid, and the signature of the drawer. With the check so positioned, the carrier is then lowered, the operator holding the detent 21 depressed to enable the neck 3'I to enter the slot 4I. In a preferred variant of the construction the wall I2 may be extended upwardly and outwardly, as indicated in dotted lines at 5B in Figure 5, so that the outer end of extension 36 will be cammed inside of the wall I2 to eliminate the necessity for the operator to hold the detent depressed in the seating movement. With the check positioned and the carrier in its operative relationship, the user then exerts a longitudinal pulling force upon the check to cause it to travel below the marking `wheels 3|. This movement causes the wheels to make a series of marks or perforations across the paper which renders it substantially impossible subsequently to alter the check in an unobvious manner.

While the particular device herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments oi the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A check protector comprising a base, rotatablencheck marking means, means mounting said marking means for pivotal movement on said base about an axis at right angles to the axis of rotation of said rotary means, a spring pressed detent movable with said marking means and including an extended seating portion, a reduced neck, and a force receiving head, a wall on said base formed with arslot opening into a larger detent seat, said wall extending adjacent the movable end of said marking means, characterized in that the extended seating portion of said detent is adapted to seat within said detent seat with said marking means in operative position and in that the application of a force upon said head displaces said seating portion from said seat and enables said reduced neck to traverse said slot in the pivotal movement of said marking means to inoperative position.

2. A check protector of the type in which a check is moved therethrough in the marking operation and including a rigid base, a carrier pivoted on one side oi said base for movement between overlying and spaced angular positions, rotatable marking means carried by said carrier for rotation about an axis at right angles to the carrier pivotal axis, said marking means including axially lspaced series of circumierentially arranged projections extended through the plane of the top surface of said base with said carrier pivoted :into overlying position, said base being slotted to receive said projections, the slots being suiiiciently wide to enable said projections to move therein upon the pivotal movement of said carrier, said base and said carrier including cooperating means to retain said carrier in its operative overlying position comprising a spring pressed detent carried by said carrier in the axis of rotation of said marking means and a seat therefor on said base.

3. A check protector of the type in which a check is moved therethrough in the marking operation and including a rigid base, a carrier pivoted on one side of Said base for movement between overlying and spaced angular positions, a rotatable marking unit carried by said carrier includ- 5 ing a multiplicity of axially and circumferentially REFERENCES CITED spaced marking projections a sleeve extended m The following references are of record in the said carrier serving as the axis of rotation of said me of this patent:

projections, pins extended from the ends of said sleeve into seats in said carrier, a coil spring 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS y in said sleeve urging said pins axially into their Number Name Date seats in said carrier, characterized in that One 966,938 Mitchell Aug. 9, 1910 of said pins extends beyond said carrier into dis- 1,228,844 Stephenson June 5, 1917 placeable seating engagement with Said base with 1,520,277 Callahan Dec. 23, 1924 l said carrier positioned in overlying operative pol0 1,842,907 Lawhorn Jan. 26, 1932 sition with respect thereto. 1,855,199 Peaker Apr. 26, 1932 1,879,354 Levi Sept. 27, 1932 RICHARD I. HELLER. 1,943,404 Weston July 16, 1934 2,186,336 Heller Jan. 9, 1940 

